Garden gnomes. Are they cute or whimsical or just a waste of space? I for one, think they are adorable and should grace any garden. They have been around for centuries some literature date them back to the 1600’s but they didn’t hit mainstream until German 1800’s. Phillip Griebel popularized these mythical creatures in Germany…

In honor of International Women’s Day, which was March 8, I’m blogging today about women in horticulture that I admire. Peg Conley has been and continues to be a Douglas-Sarpy Master Gardener since 1979. Her signature contribution is the gardening knowledge she has imparted to the citizens of Nebraska in her 39 years as a…

Okay so I’ve been lagging behind getting my blogs out this past month. Getting back into the swing of things this week I wanted to talk about choosing plants for rain gardens. When we think of rain gardens we think of plants that will be submerged all the time like aquatic/pond plants. However, this is…

Nothing beats the beauty and movement of our backyard birds, especially during the winter months when our landscapes lack color. One important thing to keep in mind, however, is that the bird seed dropped beneath bird feeders can attract voles. Voles are granivores, meaning grains are their main food source. Since the bird seed in…

Nothing says “I love you” like a plant! Why not a houseplant with heart-shaped leaves for your main squeeze on Valentine’s Day? After all, roses aren’t the only romantic gift. Give the gift of romance and healthy air, all at the same time! The chenille plant (Acalypha hispida) has wonderful drooping spikes of muted red…

With a tip of the cap to National Groundwater Awareness Week, the landscape and gardening industry must do their part to prevent groundwater and surface water pollution on the properties we manage. At first, this topic may seem kinda nebulous, almost begging the question of “how does my garden or lawn contribute to water…

I’ve admired the work of Dr. Bonnie Lee Appleton for many years. I first ran across her work when I was working closely with Fine Gardening magazine/Taunton Publishing, and the editors sent me some of her work to use as a model. She wrote a number of books and magazine articles including Trees, Shrubs and…

There’s no better way to explain nature to your kids than to feed the birds, using the right combination of bird food, feeders, bird baths and shelter. Cardinals, juncos, chickadees, goldfinches and mellow morning doves are among the common species in our area. Start off with one of the most overlooked tools to attract…

In the drab, grey days of February and early March, indoor color is welcome. Most Nebraskans get a sort of “cabin fever” after being forced indoors for several months. Fight back with some blooming branches. Simply prune off several branches from spring flowering trees and shrubs and plunk them in a large vase of water. …

To cap off our library lover’s week I would like to encourage to check out the insect books your local library may have. If you go to the science section you should look for the 595 library number range. There you’ll find books on spiders, myriapods (millipedes/centipedes), insects and other arthropods. Depending on what you…

When I go to a garden book, it’s usually to find an answer about specific features of a plant. With that in mind, it’s no wonder that my favorite book is actually a series of books, connected in one way or another to the University of Illinois. As you read down through the list, sometimes…

In recognition of February as National Library Lovers’ Month, I’m going to share my favorite gardening books with you. The Undaunted Garden—Planting for Weather-Resilient Beauty by Lauren Springer (ISBN 1-55591-115-3) has everything a gardener wants—colorful pictures of great gardens, a directory of tough plants (also with great pictures), and Springer’s straightforward narrative. The single best…

This week on the GROBigRed Blog we are celebrating National Library Lover’s Month and the books that we love to use. I want to share two of my go-to books and a new addition that I am excited to have this year. Field Guide to Wildflowers of Nebraska and the Great Plains (ISBN 978-1-60938-071-7) by…

I’ve been fortunate over the years to travel to other states to learn about various aspects of tree and turf care and transfer the technology and research results to the residents of Nebraska. It’s amazing how many similarities there are. Sure, the plants are different, and the care is a bit unique, but fertilization, pruning,…

This time of year is the perfect time to think about swapping or buying seeds to get ready for the coming year. But many people are often confused about some of the language used on seed packets. What exactly does hybrid mean? or heirloom? What a bout non-GMO?